Jeff59

Shall sort another post soon, my tea’s ready. 👍😂

On Mikasa’s ships boats I said at start of build a really nice set of resin boats would really enhance this model, no takers yet. Person in model club said try MicroMaster Shapeways, did and came up with some success, ongoing,  found the 50 ft Pinnace, the kit one is two large in this scale, still waiting on it and some other boats to arrive, fingers x on this.

As I mentioned earlier, I have decided to change the colours on my masts, again a case of using the Force, deciding on the light grey and tyre wall black, also on the masts, the spars are two high and not long enough, this means quite a lot of modifications, so going to stick with it and try to change this area slightly, is it worth the bother ? won’t know till I’ve tried it. 🤞Some early photos show the bottom spars about the same width as bridge wing. put some photos up to show my point.

Hello again, hope everyone is well and have their Xmas wish list made out 😄 were was i with this build ? I’ll start with rigging on the chimneys,just kidding 😂since I was daft enough to buy another detail set I better use as much as I can. Used all the small shackle points for the funnel attachments for stays. Because she is quite hard to get cut and dry facts and photos on her, you just have to be like Luke Skywalker, use the Force 🤪. Got some advice from guys in model club on doing this👍 Turns out not to difficult, but you do have to be careful when working around the model at this stage, so easy to damage, when trying to glue some of rigging, steadying my hand I felt something give a little, god it was one of the twelve pounder guns underneath the boat deck, so that one isn’t as secure as I would want, then I thought imagine if I totally dislodged it, you’d never be able to reset it, you’d have to reset the gun hatches in the shut position. Took this as a warning shot across the bows, if you take this model on I’m sure you’ll feel the same way. Put some photos up to show progress, be easy on me I’ve never done this before.

4 hours ago, yvesvidal said:

Impressive work. I like the U shaped piece of metal to protect the hull and guns.

 

Yves

Actually this works really well on a lot of counts, designed it to support the ship on its side giving enough distance for clearance on the six inch guns pointing outwards, also there is so much photo etch on the side of the hull that fitting this is a lot easier whilst the model is on its side, the small flat bar frame I added later helped balance it  better, I can still balance the model on it’s side now. Another plus’s is its excellent for handling the model, doesn’t have to be made out of metal, it’s the design that works well, I am definitely going to do similar with my Bismarck and Titanic builds. Can recommend this, sometimes something’s just work well. 👍

Finally fitted on some more details to bridge super structure painted and fitted bridge structure to deck to see if that stops me breaking things, 🙄 watch when making the small navigation lights from etch all the parts are handed including part 124.  Also my drainpipe from my bridge wing should have had a small offset, can’t achieve this so had to run it up vert same as after bridge, a Well can’t get everything. 🤪 put some more photos up. Does anyone know of after market parts in this scale that might help me with details for inside the bridge, like telegraphs ships wheel and binnacle?

Also see another alteration that I shall need to try, the mast spars are to high up on the detail set for either version of Mikasa so shall attempt to correct this, they should be approximately 25 30 feet further down the masts, clearly below the searchlight platform. The main mast seems to show the darker grey above the gun tub for a distance, possibly to hide smoke discolouration from funnels 🤔 and in other period photo in black and white she looks like all the upper works are in dark grey, certainly not the light beige colour asked for in kit. Also notice three vents on forward deck next to anchors. ?

Here is one of her in 1905 I suspect.

Also changed my mind on colour scheme on masts, can’t see any evidence that the light beige colour is genuine, I am going to go with a mixture of dark grey and light grey, it’s not the easiest ship to sort out. Even the period photos for 1902 period seem to contradict.

Hello again, ain’t it just typical, like buses, don’t come for ages then three come at same time 😂 this one showed take me up to speed. 👍 finished the last four ships  vents then painted  dark grey, changes the model and ships appearance. At long  last i here you saying, also the forward mast, progress was made, that entailed making another gun tub as before, one difference I did make was in the oval sections on either side of mast, was as I suspected, this should be around the ladders and was you’re access to gun tub platform, I did discover a photo showing this, so tried to replicate this. Post some photos to show this👍 

On 10/27/2022 at 1:21 PM, yvesvidal said:

Remarkable work of precision and tidiness.

 

Yves

Thanks Yves, it is a slow process for me but think I am picking up momentum, feels like I am trying to build her quicker than I can break her. 😂

On 10/26/2022 at 7:28 PM, Tigerdvr said:

A pleasure to view your work and log, Thanks for sharing.😀

Thanks for liking it, it’s not till you go back to the start of the log that you are reminded how much work and time is taken to get were you are😳 worse thing is that I have hundreds of models up the loft to build. I do realise that this is just not going to happen, considering this shall be the first model I’ve completed in decades, How did you like building your Arizona ?

Try another update tomorrow guys, past my bedtime wife says 😂 🤛

Also try to show how I glued the plastic part of bridge wing to the metal etch part which is all very fragile. After both parts painted separately the handrails were turned upside down to sit on flat surface, then lined up the etched bridge wing on top of this and glued together applying light pressure were necessary, take plenty of time here. You may prefer another method, not saying this is suitable for anyone, just my own solution. 👍

Time to try to progress with another update. The metal etch details for the underside of the bridge wing is a little gem but a lot of work, same as after bridge really, the steelwork framework at each end is quite tricky. Shall put some photos up to show how I tried to set them, still not easy though. 

Shall try another post soon. 👍 Hope everyone is well. 🤛

Decided to try to fit some details to inside of bridge, hence making wooden flooring and bulkhead.

The bridge wing deck requires plastic details removed top and bottom. My sequence was to stain the wooden decking for this and the bridge roof, then clue to plastic parts using white glue. Followed by masking of the decking, I then fitted the handrails then painted them, carefully removing masking once paint was dry. Incidentally I did alter the position of the upper bridge forward by about 2mm, seems to be this way on actual ship at mueseum. My best guess anyway.  

It takes a while to get round all the detailing and painting them separately before fitting, I did purchase a second Pontos set to get the necessary parts I wanted, I know this is over the top but there’s no way of producing the 1902 version without the necessary parts, it would be great if Pontos could do an additional set to help if the markets out there. 👍

Hello again, Yip it’s that time of life, time for an update. I remember this part of build being quite busy to say the least and knew it would take a while. Starting with the lower bridge super structure following Pontos instructions removed unwanted surface details using electric chisel and my craft knife with curved blade, then start fitting the etch details, following the sequence in instructions works easy enough. Just added some extra details, pipes and jibes, cable drums, it all helps to bring the model to life.

Brill, that’s the part I’m working on just now, keep you posted. 🤛

Thanks Tim, seems we are always trying to get better. As usual the photos show up the imperfections that makes you strive to doing them better, guess that’s what modelling is about. 👍 Hope your build coming on well. ?